Hitting up on the serve

[Curious]

Yeah, I have always known this tip since I started playing tennis but somehow I didn't pay attention mostly thinking ' duh, the ball is up there so you need to hit up!' until last night when I specifically tried to do that. The result was surprisingly good. It really felt like 10mph faster. The thing is I noticed I was always hitting the ball more with a forward swing even though it looked like the racket was going up.
Anyway, worth trying guys, really focus on throwing the racket at the ball as if you're trying to send it over the court lights, you will notice you won't be able to, with a nice surprising result.

 

[acintya]

Yeah, I have always known this tip since I started playing tennis but somehow I didn't pay attention mostly thinking ' duh, the ball is up there so you need to hit up!' until last night when I specifically tried to do that. The result was surprisingly good. It really felt like 10mph faster. The thing is I noticed I was always hitting the ball more with a forward swing even though it looked like the racket was going up.
Anyway, worth trying guys, really focus on throwing the racket at the ball as if you're trying to send it over the back fence, you will notice you won't be able to, with a nice surprising result.

try this with the left hand - you will feel it even more as the muscles are more relaxed - at least i feel it and then i transfer it to the right side

 

[LeeD]

SWINGING up, hitting forwards.

 

[mbm0912]

same concept as "hit the top of the ball"?

 

[user92626]

For some reason my mind can never grasp this concept of hitting up! So right now I just go by feeling.

I think your arm swings up but the racket face is hitting forward/down by virtue of racket/arm angle. It's very confusing.

 

[user92626]

same concept as "hit the top of the ball"?

Yep. And you can only hit the back or the top half of the ball by having the racket face angling forward/down. LOL.

 

[Pete Player]

Throwing the hand up towards the ceiling, will eventually have all the levers straight and racket has only the possibility to flip around the wrist and accelerate later and more than with a straight arm swinging forward earlier.


——————————
No more on pain meds - all contributed matter and anti-matter are still subject to disclaimer

 

[Curious]

For some reason my mind can never grasp this concept of hitting up! So right now I just go by feeling.

I think your arm swings up but the racket face is hitting forward/down by virtue of racket/arm angle. It's very confusing.

I was thinking the same until I tried specifically to hit/swing up.

 

[fuzz nation]

Yeah, I have always known this tip since I started playing tennis but somehow I didn't pay attention mostly thinking ' duh, the ball is up there so you need to hit up!' until last night when I specifically tried to do that. The result was surprisingly good. It really felt like 10mph faster. The thing is I noticed I was always hitting the ball more with a forward swing even though it looked like the racket was going up.
Anyway, worth trying guys, really focus on throwing the racket at the ball as if you're trying to send it over the court lights, you will notice you won't be able to, with a nice surprising result.

Nice - you're definitely onto something!!

The little warm up drill I love to use with the kids to get them driving in the right direction with their serves is to set up at the service line. From there I'll have them try to hit 4-6 practice serves on the fly to the far fence instead of down into the court. In fact I just did this yesterday with one of my smaller high school dudes who is looking to build a stronger move. This redirection really promotes more upward drive to reach that back fence and it was easy to see how this little guy tapped into more of an upward leg drive to hit these warm up serves.

The other thing that's really valuable with this warm up is that it can get a server away from sort of bowing over at the waist to try to leverage the racquet over the top. That bowing over is more of a pulling down effort than an upward drive that's promoted by flying the ball to the far fence.

 

[user92626]

I was thinking the same until I tried specifically to hit/swing up.

Yeahhh... whatever your mind can interpret and direct your body!!!

I'm hearing "swing up" in this place, but I'm seeing a lot of "swing forward" and even some forward.

 

[J011yroger]

TW poster struggles with serve for years, finally tries advice that every halfway decent coach gives and is surprised it works.

What a time to be alive.

J

 

[J011yroger]

Yeahhh... whatever your mind can interpret and direct your body!!!

I'm hearing "swing up" in this place, but I'm seeing a lot of "swing forward" and even some forward.

You know that's a second serve right?

J

 

[user92626]

You know that's a second serve right?

J

OK.

So, what does it mean in term of hitting up or forward / seemingly down concept?

 

[J011yroger]

OK.

So, what does it mean in term of hitting up or forward / seemingly down concept?

I don't understand the question.

J

 

[user92626]

I don't understand the question.

J

It's ok

 

[Dragy]

Yeahhh... whatever your mind can interpret and direct your body!!!

I'm hearing "swing up" in this place, but I'm seeing a lot of "swing forward" and even some forward.

It’s because you focus on the wrong part. By the time forward part you see happens your accelerated swing is done (the throwing motion) and the “controlled pivot” scene takes the stage. You swing up, and then the arm pivots once straight and racquet pivots with the arm as there’s no more room to go higher.

 

[Curious]

TW poster struggles with serve for years, finally tries advice that every halfway decent coach gives and is surprised it works.

What a time to be alive.

J

Look at the bright side, I could have gone another 6 or 16 years without trying and realising!

 

[Keendog]

TW poster struggles with serve for years, finally tries advice that every halfway decent coach gives and is surprised it works.

What a time to be alive.

J

Shade!

 

[user92626]

It’s because you focus on the wrong part. By the time forward part you see happens your accelerated swing is done (the throwing motion) and the “controlled pivot” scene takes the stage. You swing up, and then the arm pivots once straight and racquet pivots with the arm as there’s no more room to go higher.

Can you elaborate on the "arm pivots" and "racquet pivots"? What should be the intent action? Is there a similar analogy in other activities?

 

[am1899]

I generally like teaching the concept of hitting up on the serve. To me it’s a roundabout way of keeping other body parts up longer in the motion - for those servers who drop their head, tossing arm, etc.

Sometimes those roundabout tips are great because you don’t draw attention to one specific part of the motion or the body. My general experience is, the less intermediate and advanced players have to think about when they’re about to serve, the better (if anything, better for those thoughts to be tactical, some kind of visualization, or even some form of relaxation). To be sure, the former doesn’t apply as much to most beginner players, as most are still developing the parts of the motion.

My 2 cents.

 

[TnsGuru]

Tilt the shoulders, the front higher than the hitting shoulder when you toss the ball. Don't drop you're elbow but tilt as you wind up and reach up high with your tossing arm. From the trophy position you can then hit up in a cartwheel type motion like Fed and Sampras does.

 

[Curious]

Forget about all the elements of the motion and anatomical stuff, just think about throwing the racket up at the ball with absolutely no intention or effort to swing forward into the court. What happens is the racket eventually comes around and hits the ball forward and downward as there is nowhere else for it to go.

 

[Dragy]

Can you elaborate on the "arm pivots" and "racquet pivots"? What should be the intent action? Is there a similar analogy in other activities?

It’s throwing the racquet upward edge-on, nothing new. And instead of releasing the racquet to fly away one keeps holding the grip and lets it rotate. There are details like the swing has been a tad accross the ball even for flat serve and ISR has been happening, and forearm-shaft angle kept, hence the “controlled pivot”, which is not directly over the top with racquet-arm in a straight line, but a combination with arm ISR+pronation.

 

[user92626]

Forget about all the elements of the motion and anatomical stuff, just think about throwing the racket up at the ball with absolutely no intention or effort to swing forward into the court. What happens is the racket eventually comes around and hits the ball forward and downward as there is nowhere else for it to go.

It’s throwing the racquet upward edge-on, nothing new. And instead of releasing the racquet to fly away one keeps holding the grip and lets it rotate. There are details like the swing has been a tad accross the ball even for flat serve and ISR has been happening, and forearm-shaft angle kept, hence the “controlled pivot”, which is not directly over the top with racquet-arm in a straight line, but a combination with arm ISR+pronation.

This kind of info is very vague so we're back to square one!

Throw the racket "up" where? There are many up spots. Directly up above you? Up in front of you by 10 degrees? by 20 degrees? Let's use the clock face as a reference point. Imagine it is perpendicular to the net.

For a rightie, does he throw the racket at 11oclock spot? 10 oclock spot?

 

[Dragy]

This kind of info is very vague so we're back to square one!

Throw the racket "up" where? There are many up spots. Directly up above you? Up in front of you by 10 degrees? by 20 degrees? Let's use the clock face as a reference point. Imagine it is perpendicular to the net.

For a rightie, does he throw the racket at 11oclock spot? 10 oclock spot?

Throw it directly onto the ball.

 

[Pete Player]

This kind of info is very vague so we're back to square one!

Throw the racket "up" where? There are many up spots. Directly up above you? Up in front of you by 10 degrees? by 20 degrees? Let's use the clock face as a reference point. Imagine it is perpendicular to the net.

For a rightie, does he throw the racket at 11oclock spot? 10 oclock spot?

The “sideways” stance will take care of the swing path, just throw it at the ball. If not much pronation, it’ll turn out to be a slice, if some pronation, a topspin/kicker, and if fully pronated, a flat.

As long as you do it with a loose arm, anything goes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[J011yroger]

The “sideways” stance will take care of the swing path, just throw it at the ball. If not much pronation, it’ll turn out to be a slice, if some pronation, a topspin/kicker, and if fully pronated, a flat.

As long as you do it with a loose arm, anything goes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No.

J

 

[Kevo]

Forget about all the elements of the motion and anatomical stuff, just think about throwing the racket up at the ball with absolutely no intention or effort to swing forward into the court. What happens is the racket eventually comes around and hits the ball forward and downward as there is nowhere else for it to go.

This forum is like déjà vu.

 

[Kevo]

This forum is like déjà vu.

 

[gazz1]

This forum is like déjà vu.

I feel like I've read this post before

 

[gazz1]

Throw it directly onto the ball.

Where you intend to make contact with the ball, correct?

 

[Dragy]

Where you intend to make contact with the ball, correct?

I would say it depends on the serve type. For spin serves you throw it into the intended contact point. For flat serve - a tad farther from contact point so that the racquet pivots slightly more before contact.

But for practice purposes I’d ask you to forget the above passage. Just go practice the upward swinging and make your brain and body figure out a working motion, timing, trajectory.

 

[Deleted member 54265]

Pat Dougherty, has a really good video on hitting up on the serve

 

[acintya]

this is rocket science..i watched millions of videos and i know what to do,but to have a really good consistent kick serve you need to go out there and practice it till you fall over - step by step

what changed it for me was to keep standing sideways when i hit it - really an eye opener

 

[acintya]

For some reason my mind can never grasp this concept of hitting up! So right now I just go by feeling.

I think your arm swings up but the racket face is hitting forward/down by virtue of racket/arm angle. It's very confusing.

it is confusing yes

 

[acintya]

Pat Dougherty, has a really good video on hitting up on the serve

he has really great stuff. people like salzenstein and similar channels sometimes scratch only the surface but pat really digs deep into it - like Tomaz from feel tennis. Coach Kyril is good too

 

[Deleted member 54265]

he has really great stuff. people like salzenstein and similar channels sometimes scratch only the surface but pat really digs deep into it - like Tomaz from feel tennis. Coach Kyril is good too

You can write to him and get his almost 2 hour MPH serve course (the youtube video that I linked to is part of that MPH course)

I think it is one of the best courses out there.

Cheers, Toby

 

[acintya]

You can write to him and get his almost 2 hour MPH serve course (the youtube video that I linked to is part of that MPH course)

I think it is one of the best courses out there.

Cheers, Toby

thanks!!where should i write him? is in this course also something for learning the kick serve?im obsessed with the topspin serve
better to have two kick serves than one flat serve and a weird not consistent second serve

 

[Deleted member 54265]

thanks!!where should i write him? is in this course also something for learning the kick serve?im obsessed with the topspin serve
better to have two kick serves than one flat serve and a weird not consistent second serve

https://www.apbelt.com/serve_doctor.html

It is kind of unlike any other courses out there.

 

[J011yroger]

thanks!!where should i write him? is in this course also something for learning the kick serve?im obsessed with the topspin serve
better to have two kick serves than one flat serve and a weird not consistent second serve

Shame you aren't in the Northeast, the Jolliteri Academy serve clinic is the best value in rec tennis.

J

 

[BulldogLouisiana]

Shame you aren't in the Northeast, the Jolliteri Academy serve clinic is the best value in rec tennis.

J

Would the Jolliteri Academy accept a visit from a squat, middle-aged-man from Louisiana? I'd seriously consider booking a trip up there. If you say no, I'll turn to the Jolluminati for help.

 

[J011yroger]

Would the Jolliteri Academy accept a visit from a squat, middle-aged-man from Louisiana? I'd seriously consider booking a trip up there. If you say no, I'll turn to the Jolluminati for help.

The Jolliteri Academy turns no man or woman with $65 in their pocket away.

J

 

[heninfan99]

Sorry but I've already committed to the Suresh Tennis Academy

Intense training begins in two weeks.

 

[BallBag]

The Jolliteri Academy turns no man or woman with $65 in their pocket away.

J

First week of US Open could be a good time to do it. I'd be down for some beers and serve coaching.

 

[Keendog]

First week of US Open could be a good time to do it. I'd be down for some beers and serve coaching.

I thought your serve was great! Get a lesson from @S&V-not_dead_yet and get those volleys going. While you're at it see @TimeToPlaySets to learn how to enjoy losing by hitting big, or as I call it "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"

 

[BallBag]

I thought your serve was great! Get a lesson from @S&V-not_dead_yet and get those volleys going. While you're at it see @TimeToPlaySets to learn how to enjoy losing by hitting big, or as I call it "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"

I was just gonna go to drink beer and demonstrate perfect serve technique, and I'm all out of perfect serve technique.

 

[PKorda]

Just had this epiphany today practicing my serve, completely changed the way i think about serving. Mechanics of the serve make so much more sense to me now, focusing on getting under the ball and swinging up, this naturally encourages pronation and staying more sideways

 

[J011yroger]

Just had this epiphany today practicing my serve, completely changed the way i think about serving. Mechanics of the serve make so much more sense to me now, focusing on getting under the ball and swinging up, this naturally encourages pronation and staying more sideways

I hate you all.

J

 

[johnmccabe]

I hate you all.

J

Imagine next year AI bots can analyze someone's match video and automatically spit out a learning program to cover all technical corrections and tactical training.... and we 3.5 hackers still do what we do for the next decade

 

[user92626]

I hate you all.

J

Haters gonna hate.

U